But the Daily Express claims United insiders say Mourinho only wanted to send a broader message to his squad – that he wants everyone to ‘man up’ in his regime because he believes they were too molly-coddled under his predecessors Louis van Gaal and David Moyes.

It is also claimed Mourinho has now held clear-the-air talks with both Smalling and Shaw to explain his remarks and told them they both remain in first-team contention when United return to Premier League action against Arsenal next weekend.

While the two players were initially said to be baffled by his comments, they are now said to have accepted them in good faith and in turn have assured him they are totally committed to the cause. Other players in the United squad have no issue with the manager’s remarks.

Mourinho said: “I have a friend who is a big tennis player and he tells me when he remembered more the times he plays with pain than the times he plays without pain. To compete you have to go to the limit. It is cultural for some – and that is not my culture. More than me, it is Manchester United.”